Okay - I've just gone from 8spd to 9spd to take advantage of the new SRAM Attack Trigger shifters. I was already running an 03 LX rear mech, so I changed the chain and cassette and shifters. Under heavy power I'm getting some chain slippage which I'm fairly sure is down to the chainset (Nexave 8spd) - probably partly wear (2000+ miles) and the fact the rings are designed for 8spd chains - Any other suggestions as to cause welcomed!

So I'm assuming an urgent Chainset is needed (riveted rings so the whole lot) . I'm currently running a standard pattern and ride 80% road, cassette is 11-32. I never used the top gear but occasionally used the next one down without spinning out. If I drop the 48 down to the compact 44 will I be in danger of running out of gears? Am I right in assuming 44 is the biggest you can go with compact?

The problem is standard pattern seems to end at Deore until you reach XTR (out of my league). I was looking at LX/XT but LX is compact only as is the fortcoming XT. Am I likely to be okay on compact or should I stick to Deore? Any alternatives?

Thanks

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Currently riding an MTB with a split personality - commuting, touring, riding for the sake of riding, on or off road :)

Why stick to Shimano? Race Face, FSA and Truvative all make a nice set of cranks. Not to mention, Black Spire, Kooka and others.

What's your budget for cranks and rings?

Also, something to consider depending on the direction you take. You may need a new bottom bracket. Might be a good time to switch to ISIS or Octalink. If you stick with a square-taper, you can get some good deals on closeout cranks. If you go with Shimano you WILL need a new Octalink.

L8R

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"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, "WOW, What a Ride!" - unknown
"Your Bike Sucks" - Sky Yaeger

Originally posted by a2psyklnut Why stick to Shimano? Race Face, FSA and Truvative all make a nice set of cranks. Not to mention, Black Spire, Kooka and others.

What's your budget for cranks and rings?

Also, something to consider depending on the direction you take. You may need a new bottom bracket. Might be a good time to switch to ISIS or Octalink. If you stick with a square-taper, you can get some good deals on closeout cranks. If you go with Shimano you WILL need a new Octalink.

L8R

I'd looked at Race Face but anything beyond their soon to be replaced Prodigy is beyond my budget at the moment. Maybe sometime I'll get the Deus cranks to match my stem. Race Face stuff seems pricy over here compared with the US. Similarly Middleburn are out on price. I've not heard many good words on the lower end FSA sets and whilst Truvative looks okay they look to be heavier and dearer than the Shimano offerings. Again Standard drive seems available at the bottom end and top end across the manufacturers.

Budget is really only around £100 sterling inc bottom bracket at the moment. It would be no problem if standard drive was available across all ranges.

My instinct is to get a set of LX and octalink bb. Upgrading the rings to something more durable and swapping to a 46 top (and corresponding middle) when the rings start to wear if I find I'm running out of gears on the road. By my rough gear calculations (and I'm lousy at maths) I think I'll only be dropping the equivalant of a gear at the top by going down from 48 to 44.

Richard

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Currently riding an MTB with a split personality - commuting, touring, riding for the sake of riding, on or off road :)

Richard i am in the UK too, The deus is going to retail about for 250-300GBP that is 330-400USD so its out of your budget. For 100quid i would go for either the prodigy or truvativ holzfeller or FSA afterburner.

100 GBP = !58.09 USD according to the currency conversion website I went to. Is that pretty accurate. If so, check out www.pricepoint! You can get a Race Face LP Turbine Cranks with rings and an ISIS bottom bracket included for $199 USD. + shipping. Yes, it's out of your price range, but not WAY out of your price range. You can get that either Standard OR Compact, and since they also sell JUST the rings seperately, they may be able to get you the chainring size you want.

They also have the Prodigy DH with Bash Guard, two rings and a DH bb for $115.00

L8R

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"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, "WOW, What a Ride!" - unknown
"Your Bike Sucks" - Sky Yaeger

Originally posted by math2p14 Richard i am in the UK too, The deus is going to retail about for 250-300GBP that is 330-400USD so its out of your budget. For 100quid i would go for either the prodigy or truvativ holzfeller or FSA afterburner.

Deus is a long term aim! At the moment I'm looking at something light, cheap and available that will keep me going until next summer. I can pick up LX for £50 + BB whilst Prodigy seem to be £80 + Is it that much better?

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Currently riding an MTB with a split personality - commuting, touring, riding for the sake of riding, on or off road :)

Originally posted by a2psyklnut 100 GBP = !58.09 USD according to the currency conversion website I went to. Is that pretty accurate. If so, check out www.pricepoint! You can get a Race Face LP Turbine Cranks with rings and an ISIS bottom bracket included for $199 USD. + shipping. Yes, it's out of your price range, but not WAY out of your price range. You can get that either Standard OR Compact, and since they also sell JUST the rings seperately, they may be able to get you the chainring size you want.

They also have the Prodigy DH with Bash Guard, two rings and a DH bb for $115.00

L8R

Thanks - US prices on RaceFace seem great, but as math2p14
says tax (and shipping) don't tend to make it worth while.

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Currently riding an MTB with a split personality - commuting, touring, riding for the sake of riding, on or off road :)

Richard i would go for the prodigy combo. Another option is to go for Turbines and skip the Deus option alltogether since its not tried and tested. I am in exactly the same spot as you richard looking for a crank. LX is a good option but i would either go for Prodigy (short or long term investment) or for The turbines (long term actually lifelong ). Deus is NON ISIS and it is not tried or tested yet. Plus Truvativ has a new line of bottom brackets that are also ISIS and also have EXTERNAL bearings. GigapipeSL series.